Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen is one of a number of Irish investors involved in a dispute with an English law firm which advised them when they bought student flats in Leeds.

The 57-year-old is among a group of more than 40 who have taken High Court action alleging they lost money.

They accuse Punch Robson Solicitors, which has an office in Middlesbrough, of negligence.

Solicitor Chris Waters, who is representing the claimants, said they all have “vast outstanding liabilities with various Irish banks, but primarily the Allied Irish Bank”. Punch Robson, which is believed to be contesting the action, did not respond to a request for comment.

Cowen, who was Taoiseach between 2008 and 2011, features on a list of claimants in legal papers lodged in London.

Others include Gaelic games media pundit Michael Duignan.

Judges have not yet begun overseeing High Court hearings. Mr Waters said the dispute centres on a student accommodation development called Carr Mills in Leeds, which was completed around 12 years ago and had gone into receivership in 2011.

He said between 2015 and 2016 properties sold for about £72,000 [€82,000].

Mr Waters, of London-based firm Meaby and Co, revealed the claimants had each paid around £270,000 [€308,000] for apartments bought as investment properties.

They had taken out mortgages and the “anticipated value” of total damages claims is almost €16million.

Mr Waters said: “The claimants’ claim against the defendant seeks restitution, an account of profits, equitable compensation or alternatively damages in respect of loss and damage sustained by the claimants in consequence of the defendant’s breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and negligence.”